Twelve Students Named Stoddard Scholars

PROVO, Utah – Apr 05, 2019 – Twelve Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business students were honored with the George E. Stoddard Prize, a $5,000 award given to exceptional second-year MBA finance students.

“To earn the award, the students not only had to do well in the program and the finance classes, but they had to have offered service in many different ways,” says Hal Heaton, professor of finance and the graduate finance advisor who oversees the selection of the Stoddard Scholars. “This year’s Stoddard awards went to some of the best and brightest students in the MBA program.”

The 2019 scholars are Eban Beltran, Spencer Clegg, Christopher Davis, Daniel Gore, Mark Johnson, Richard Maxwell, Chad Olesiak, Bryce Pinder, Olivia Prochazka, Logan Rahn, Jordan Tesimale, and Dan Visser.

The Stoddard Prize was established in 1985 by George E. Stoddard, a 1937 BYU alumnus. His numerous credentials include acting as senior managing director of W.P. Carey & Company, a leading global real estate investment firm in New York. He was a pioneer in the use of real estate transactions known as sale-leasebacks, which provide financing to companies struggling to gain access to traditional sources of capital. Before joining W.P. Carey & Company, Stoddard was also head of the multibillion-dollar Direct Placement Department of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

The BYU Marriott School of Business prepares men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Named for benefactors J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the school is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. BYU Marriott has four graduate and ten undergraduate programs with an enrollment of approximately 3,300 students.

Eban Beltran earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from Bowdoin College. The Santa Fe, New Mexico, native has worked at TD Bank for four years as a data analyst and will take part in Nationwide’s Finance Leadership Rotation program next year. He is currently a research assistant and plans to apply to finance doctorate programs after completing his MBA. “One of my goals is to one day become a great professor like those who are here at BYU,” says Beltran. “The professors, administrators, and students at BYU Marriott have pushed me to think beyond my career goals and seize opportunities to serve others.”             

“The BYU Marriott MBA program has been everything I hoped for and more,” says Spencer Clegg, from Fruit Heights, Utah. “I have learned so much about business, hard work, and—most importantly—myself during these two years.” As an MBA student, Clegg has served as director of deals sourcing for Cougar Capital and has also been a mentor for first-year MBA students as part of the MBA sherpa program. Clegg has worked for three years as a financial analyst and team lead at doTerra Inc. and has secured a position as director of financial planning and analysis for 1-800 Contacts upon completion of his MBA.

Christopher Davis hails from Newbury Park, California, and looks forward to the birth of his first child later this year with his wife, Natalie. Davis was the recipient of the BYU Marriott MBA Presidential Scholarship and was the winner of the Big Idea Pitch as part of the Miller Competition Series. Before he began his MBA, Davis was a senior analyst at Goldman Sachs for three years and will soon move to Seattle, Washington, to work full-time for Amazon’s financial leadership development program. “I will be forever grateful for the personal connections and network that I gained through the BYU Marriott MBA program,” Davis says.      

Daniel Gore enjoys running, traveling, reading classic literature, and spending time with family. Gore left his home in Centennial, Colorado, to pursue his bachelor’s degree and MBA in finance at BYU Marriott. Throughout his education, Gore has worked as a financial analyst for both Andersen Tax and Economic Partners LLC and interned for American Airlines’ capital planning team last year. Before working full-time for Dell later this year, Gore will complete his current position as teaching assistant for the Finance 490R class in the BYU Marriott MBA program. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to be surrounded by so many brilliant people who are committed to living lives of service and faith,” Gore says.   

“The quality of students and faculty is incredible in the BYU Marriott MBA program,” says Mark Johnson, who hails from Henderson, Nevada. “The relationships I have built will be the greatest asset that I will take with me from the program.” After completing his MBA, Johnson will work full-time as a senior financial analyst for Adobe. He currently serves as a director of private equity relations for Cougar Capital, a regional MBA recruiter for the BYU Marriott MBA office, and as a mentor for first-year MBA students in the BYU Marriott MBA sherpa program. Before and during his time as an MBA student, Johnson worked in retail and analyst positions for companies such as Vanguard, Goldman Sachs, and Ford Motor.

Richard Maxwell, from Cary, North Carolina, is a proud husband and father of three. After earning his bachelor’s degree in finance at BYU Marriott, Maxwell worked as an investment banking analyst at Wells Fargo Securities for three years. For Maxwell, the courses offered through the BYU Marriott MBA program have helped him prepare to apply to finance PhD programs next fall. “The MBA program allowed me to take additional math and economics classes and gain research assistant experience with the finance faculty,” say Maxwell. “I have loved the ability to connect with a wide range of talented and driven people during my time in the program.”

Chad Olesiak earned his bachelor’s degree in business finance from California State University. Prior to beginning his MBA, the Irvine, California, native worked for four years as an M&A associate for Harvey & Company LLC. As an MBA student, Olesiak interned with Pacific Dental Services Inc. and is a member of various club organizations, including the Graduate Finance Association and MBA Analytics clubs. “I have enjoyed the incredible learning opportunities, the confidence gained, and the human relationships made in the BYU Marriott MBA program,” says Olesiak. “Upon graduation, I intend to be an outstanding leader by delivering results, inspiring trust, and providing guidance to others.”

“I've enjoyed interacting with impressive students and faculty of diverse backgrounds who have motivated me to be better,” says Bryce Pinder. “I've had the time and resources to pursue career interests and opportunities I couldn't have pursued otherwise.” Pinder is from Orem, and graduated from BYU Marriott with a master’s in accounting in 2014. As a BYU Marriott student, Pinder has served as president of the Graduate Finance Association and capital director of research and analysis for Cougar Capital. Pinder has also worked for Ernst & Young for three years as an assurance services senior and will go on to work as a senior financial analyst for Intel after graduation.  

Olivia Prochazka left her home in Baldingen, Switzerland, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in facility and property management at BYU. Prochazka was the 2018 Utah Association for Corporate Growth Cup (ACG) winner and has served as vice president of finance for the Women in Management club at BYU. Prochazka was previously both a facility manager for Apleona for three years in Switzerland and a facility asset analyst for one year at Cushman & Wakefield in California. After completing her MBA, Prochazka will work as an associate for Partners Group in Denver, Colorado. “My career is a dream come true,” says Prochazka. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the BYU Marriott MBA program.”

Logan Rahn, from Thousand Oaks, California, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from BYU. As an MBA student, Rahn has served as president of the Graduate Real Estate Association. “I am grateful to have been able to meet and work with my fellow students in the BYU Marriott MBA program,” says Rahn. “The skills I have learned and the opportunity to participate have been invaluable to my career growth.” After graduating, Rahn will work as an associate for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation and plans to prepare for the CFA level one exam. Outside of work, Rahn enjoys photography, skiing, and reading.

“The BYU Marriott MBA Program has been a huge blessing in my life,” says Jordan Tesimale. “The program has helped me not only as a business professional but has provided me with the tools and opportunities to be a better husband, father, and servant to the Lord.” The Chesterfield, Virginia, native attended BYU Hawaii to earn his bachelor’s degree in business management and worked as an accountant for BYU Hawaii Financial Services for two years. Tesimale also has experience as a senior financial analyst for Vivint Solar, as well as a supply chain analyst for NuSkin. After receiving his MBA, Tesimale will join Intel as a senior financial analyst.

From Missoula, Montana, Dan Visser has served as president of the BYU Silver Fund and vice president of the Graduate Finance Association. “One of the best experiences I've had in the program is the opportunity to be a member of BYU Silver Fund,” says Visser. “I have developed finance skills and personal relationships that will last the rest of my life.” Visser also has five years of work experience as an associate for NatWest Markets, as well as one year of experience as a representative for E-Trade Financial. When he has a free moment, Visser enjoys playing golf, basketball, and Madden NFL.